Weight-supporting device.



PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

A. MALONEY. WEIGHT SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILBD 1613.29, 1905.

) Inventor,

Attorneys ANDREW. a. cmum cu, mum-umcamwens, wAsmNeToN, n c.

ALICE MALONEY, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO.

WEIGHT-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed March 29, 1905. Serial No. 252,769.

To all whom, it may concern:

BeitknownthatLALIoE MALoNnY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Weight-Supporting Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of weightsupporting devices which are in the nature of braces adapted to be applied to the human body for the purpose of relieving the strain of such weights as are carried upon the shoulder by transferring such strain to the hips by means of a belt or band strapped around the body, among the objects of the invention being to simplify and improve the construction and operation of devices of this character.

With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the in vention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied in position for operation. tion of the device constituting the invention, the padding or covering having been removed. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the frame, likewise without the padding or covering.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

The frame of the improved device is preferably constructed of wire of suitable gage and comprises a curved or arched main member 1, which is provided at the lower ends of the arms thereof with belt-receiving loops 2 2, through which passes a belt 3, adapted to be strapped around the body of the wearer. Each of the side membersor legs of the arch member 1 is provided with laterally-extending loops 4: 4: about midway of its length, the outer loops being connected with each other by means of a flexible strap 5, one end of which is detachably connected with its loop by means of a buckle 6, whereby said strap may be lengthened or shortened.

The arch member 1 is provided at the top thereof with a shoulder-engaging frame,

which may be described as composed of a wire ring bent or doubled upon itself to form a pair of arch-engaging loops 7 7 each of which is connected at two points 8 8 with the Fig. 2 is a front elevaarch member 1 by means of wire binding, solder, or other suitable fastening means, the overlapped portions of said wire ring, which extend laterally from the arch member 1, being likewise connected with each other at the intersecting points 9 9. The inner ends of the loops 7 7 are slightly upturned, as shown at 10, and the outer end of the loop 11, which extends beypnd the intersecting point 9 9, is likewise upturned, as will be best seen at 12 inFig.2ofthedrawings. Theentireshoulderengaging member is preferably in practice covered with leather or other suitable material, as indicated at 13 in Fig. 1, said covering material being, if desired, stuffed or padded in any suitable manner.

The inner loop 4: of the rear leg of the arch member 1 is connected with the rear part of the belt 3 by means of a strap 14, including a buckle 15, whereby said strap may be lengthened or shortened. The correspondinginner loop 4. of the front leg of the arch member is left vacant; but the strap 14 may be transferred from one of said loops to the other when it is desired to change the device from a right to a lefthand position, or vice versa.

This improved weight-carrying device is especially intended for those whosuch as letter-carriers, for instance have to carry loads suspended mainly from one shoulder. In applying this device in position for operation the arm is extended between the arch of the V 1 member 1 and the strap 5, and the belt 3 is then buckled around the waist, the shoulderpad being normally supported slightly above the shoulder and the strap 5 engaging the side of the body under the arm, so as to support the arched member 1 and its related parts at some distance from the body and the shoulder of the wearer, and thus preventing obnoxious and galling contact. When the strap of the bag or satchel in which the load is carried is passed across the shoulder-pad, the latter will be naturally depressed into contact with the shoulder; but the greater part of the weight will be carried by the belt 8, which rests upon the hips, and the load being thus distributed may be carried with great ease, leaving the arms of the carrier comparatively free and unencumbered. The upturned portions 10 and 12 of the loop members 7 and 11 will serve to retain the strap whereby the weight is suspended and will give proper shape to the pad to prevent the latter from annoying the wearer of the device. The various straps may be readily adjusted to lit the wearer, and the strap 14 prevents the arched carrying member from being tilted outwardly.

This improved device, as will be seen from the foregoing description, is extremely simple in construction and may be produced at a moderate expense. It will greatly relieve the wearer of the weight of his load by distributing the same, thus contributing to his comfort and well-being.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A body-engaging belt, weight-supporting member connected with said belt, and means for spacing said weight-supporting member from the body of the wearer.

2. Abody-engaging belt, a shoulder-straddling weight-supporting member connected therewith, and means for spacing the weightsupporting member from the body of the wearer.

3. In a device of the class described, an arched shoulder-straddling weight-supporting member, a belt connected slidably with the legs of said arched member, and a body-engaging band connecting said legs intermediate the arch and the body-engaging belt.

4. In a device of the class described, an arched shoulder-straddling member the legs of which are provided with loops at their lower ends and intermediate the lower ends and the arch, a body-encirling belt engaging the loops at the lower ends, and a body-engaging strap connecting the intermediate loops.

5. In a device of the class described, an arched shoulder-straddling member, a bodyencircling belt connected with the legs of said member and supporting the latter, a strap connecting said legs and adapted to engage the body of the wearer, and a shoulder-engaging frame secured upon the arch of said member.

6. In a device of the class described, an arched shoulder-straddling member, a waistengaging belt supporting said member, and a frame connected with the arch of the latter; said frame consisting of a ring doubled upon itself to present a pair of inwardly-extending loops connected with the arch at the points of intersection.

7. A weight-supporting arch member, and a shoulder-frame connected with said arch member; said shoulder-frame consisting of a ring doubled upon itself to present a pair of inwardly-extending loops connected with the arch at the points of intersection, and outwardly-extending loops crossing each other and connected at the points of intersection.

8. A weight-supporting arch member, and a shoulder-frame connected with said arch member; said shoulder-frame consisting of a ring doubled upon itself to present a pair of inwardly-extending loops connected with the arch at the points of intersection, and outwardly-extending loops crossing each other and connected at the points of intersection; the several loops being provided with upturned ends.

9. A weight-supporting arch member, a body-encircling belt connected slidably with the legs of said arch member, a body-engaging strap connecting said legs between the belt and the arch, and an auxiliary adjustable strap connecting the rear leg of the arch member with the back portion of the belt.

10. In a device of the class described, a weight-supporting shoulder-straddling arch member, a body-encircling belt connected slidably with the lower ends of the legs of said arch member, a body-engaging strap connecting said legs intermediate the belt and the arch, a strap connecting the rear leg of the arch with the back portion of the belt, and a padded shoulder-frame securely connected with the arch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALICE MALONEY.

l/Vitnessesz r ELERY (J. BRooKs, ALMA M. BROD. 

